The Governing Board desires to help all district students achieve to their highest potential regardless of their social, health, or economic circumstances and recognizes that schools alone cannot meet all the complex needs of children. The district shall provide support services for children and families to the extent possible and shall work with other local governments, businesses, foundations, and community-based organizations, as appropriate, to improve the health, safety, and well-being of the community's youth.

The Board shall initiate or participate in collaborative relationships with city and county elected officials to design and coordinate multi-agency programs that respond to the needs of children and families and provide more efficient use of district and community resources.

The Board may establish or participate in formal structures for governance teams to regularly meet and discuss issues of mutual concern.

The Superintendent and appropriate staff shall cooperate with public and private entities in the planning and implementation of joint projects or activities within the community. The Superintendent or designee may designate a coordinator to ensure effective implementation of the district's responsibilities in any such collaborative project.

(cf. 1400 - Relations Between Other Governmental Agencies and the Schools)

In order to identify priorities for youth services, the Board shall encourage a periodic assessment of children's needs within the community, which may include, but not be limited to, needs based on poverty, child abuse and neglect, poor physical or mental health, homelessness, placement in foster care, lack of access to child care, substance abuse, or

violence. The needs assessment also should examine the extent to which those needs are being met through existing services in the district and in the community, the costs of providing those services, and any gaps, delay, or duplication of services.

The Board shall approve the services to be offered by the district, the resources that will be allocated to support collaboration, any use of school facilities for services, and any development or joint use of facilities with other jurisdictions.

All agreements with other agencies to coordinate services or share resources shall be in writing. The Board may establish joint powers agreements or memorandums of understanding, when feasible, to formalize the responsibilities and liabilities of all parties in a collaborative activity.

The Superintendent or designee shall work with interagency partners to explore funding opportunities available through each agency, state and national grant programs, and/or private foundations for youth service coordination and delivery.

In order to facilitate service delivery or determination of eligibility for services, the district may share information with other appropriate agencies with parent/guardian consent and in accordance with laws pertaining to confidentiality and privacy.